State employees in Georgia face furloughs

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Governor Sonny Perdue will avoid a special legislative session to fix Georgia's budget, but it will be at a cost to education and medicaid.

The agreement reached with legislators will require every state employee to take three days without pay before the end of this year, and it could include teachers. Dougherty County Schools say the latest cuts mean they'll lose 2.8 million dollars in state funding. Lee County will face a $870,000 cut in funds. Both district's big concern is trying to meet state classroom requirements if they have to furlough teachers.

"Classroom size is also mandated by the state. There are a number of critical factors that affect the learning of children and the progress they're making in the classroom that relate to our being able to staff our classrooms," said R.D. Harter, DCSS Public Information Officer.

While teachers are technically state employees they work under contract with the local school system. R.D. Harter said they're waiting to hear from the state how they should proceed.